Fluid handling and filling machine



Dec. 11, 1962 s. ROSEN 3,

FLUID HANDLING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

SIDNEY ROSEN! INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1962 s. ROSEN 3,

FLUID HANDLING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

OPERATIONAL CYCLE 6 ocLocK TRI s I? a 6 5 l2 9' 6 TO RFQLAY m PUMP MOTOR FLUID FLOW TO CONTAINERS CONTAINER s'rop s4 RELEASES FULL CONTAINERS MOVE OUT SEPARATOR BAR 78 INTERPOSES v- I EMPTY CONTAINERS 4 MOVE IN Po's'ITIoNER 9a ADJUSTS CONTAINERS m SIDNEY ROSEN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Dec.- l1, 1962 v s. ROSEN 3,067,786

FLUID HANDLING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed April 2-3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 SIDNEY ROSEN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 3,067,786 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 3,067,786 FLUID HANDLING AND FILLING MACHINE Sidney Rosen, 2701 Rockwood Ave., Baltimore 15, Md. Filed Apr. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 730,442 2 Claims. (Cl. 141-179 The present invention relates generally to an improved handling system for semi-viscous fluids. More particularly, the invention pertains to automatic controls for handling and pumping semi-viscous liquids into containers, such as vials, ampoules, and small vessels.

In my Patent Number 2,807,213, for Filling Machine, issued September 24, 1957, I disclosed an improvement in filling machines. It was stated therein that the machine could be used singly or in multiples by means of electronic control. It is my object in the present invention to teach these means and principles of synchronization.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filling control for containers which operates automatically to complete a filling cycle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a recycling, completely automatic container handling and filling machine for filling containers with semi-viscous fiuids.

To provide an automatic handling and filling machine for filling containers with semi-viscous fluids at a high rate, one which is economical to manufacture, efficient and reliable in operation, and easy to maintain and install, are other objects of this invention.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the accompanying specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the mechanicalportion of a simple filling system employing some principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an electrical diagram of a control system used with the pumping system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is the schematic diagram of a motor speed control used with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an automatic conveyor-filler machine, together with a schematic control diagram in accordance with principles of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is an operational cycle chart sho quence of functions of the machine of FIG;

In referring to the drawings, like referenc numerals are used to indicate like and similar parts throughout the several views.

The filling system of FIG. 1 consists of a filling machine 140 similar to that in above-referenced patent having reciprocating cylinder pumps 130 driven by a motor 118. The pumps 130 are connected to the liquid supply by a flexible tube, not shown, preferably a suitable plastic tube. A fluid feed line 132 connects each pump 130 to a suitably positioned discharge nozzle 134 with respect to containers 26 to be filled with viscous or semi-viscous fluids.

A motor speed regulator 52 which may have the electrical configuration of FIG. 3 is shown in the diagram, FIG. 2. Regulator 52 has field supply terminals F, armature supply terminals A, and line terminals L. Motor 118 has an armature 116 and a field coil 117. In addition to driving reciprocating pumps 130, motor 118 rotates a motor cam 122. In conjunction with this cam 122, there is provided a microswitch 144 having single pole double throw contacts and single pole, single throw normally closed contacts. A switch 142, preferably in the form of a treadle, has single pole double throw contacts.

In this, a semi-automatic form of the invention, motor 118 is provided with field power by regulator 52 con- V the se- "triggering terminals 107, which in turn, are in series connection from an isolation transformer 114 to power nected to a power line 38. Armature power passes first through the normally closed contacts of the double throw portion of switch 144 to the open contact of treadle switch 142.

When the operator momentarily depresses the treadle switch 142, armature 116 is therethrough energized and motor 118 begins to rotate. Cam 122 raises the contact arms of microswitch 144, the upper arm of the microswitch 144 then transfers the armature supply circuit from treadle switch 142 directly to the armature 116. Motor 118 continues to run, now under control of cam switch 144, and pumps 130 force fluid into containers 26.

After one revolution of motor 118, the containers have been filled and cam 122 drops microswitch 144 to the original start position, cutting oil the power to the armature 116 of motor 118. In addition, the lower single pole contacts can be seen to throw a short-circuit leading through the upper contacts of treadle switch 142 directly across the armature 116. This electro-magnetically brakes motor 118, preventing over-rotation into another cycle of operation until triggered by the operator.

A completely automatic system will now be described. This form of the invention requires an operator only for loading a conveyor.

The automatic system as illustrated in FIG. 4 consists of a conveyor belt 20 driven in the direction of the solid arrow by a motor 22 connected to a suitable power line 38. A set of guide rails 24, adapted for the containers 26, is suspended over the belt 20. A stationary platform 27 is mounted at the upstream end of guide rails 24 and just above the moving belt 20.

In a similar manner to that for the semi-automatic system, filling machines 140 are connected to discharge nozzles 134. These nozzles 134, pre-arranged on an adjustable support 136, serve containers 26 in a filling area A-B between the guide rails 24.

A plurality of microswitches 28, one for each container 26 in filling area AB, are series connected and electrically attached to trigger terminals 102 of an electrical pulse former device having output terminals 106 and power input terminals 104. Devices of this type are well-known in the art. The purpose of such a device is to produce a short impulse of circuit closure for each time a circuit connected to its input terminals is closed.

Output terminals 106 of device 100 are connected to a relay 108 through an intermediate rectifier 112.-

Relay 108 is provided with a single pole, double throw contacts configuration with a normally closed contact 109 and a normally open contact 110.

Motor 7118 of filling machine 140, as pointed out previously in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, has an armature 116, -a field 117, and has a regulated supply 52 therefor. Each motor 118 drives reciprocating pumps 130 by a shaft 120 and crank arm 121. On this same shaft 120 of motor 118, there are mounted a plurality of cams 122, 124, 126, and 128, said'cams being arranged to actuate microswitches 123, 125, 127, 129, re-

spectively.

'The first microswitch 123 has a single pole, double throw configuration. Switches 125, 127 and 129 are of a single pole, normally open type and connect, respectively, to a stop actuating solenoid 82 with a rectifier 83, a positioning solenoid 94 with a rectifier 95, and a separator bar actuating solenoid 74 with a rectifier 75.

As seen in FIG. 4, a stop arm 84 is spring held in the path formed by guide rails 24 on the downstream side and adjacent to filling area AB. A separator bar 78 is spring held by means of a linkage 76 in the path on the upstream side of filling area AB. A positioner 98, which may have a blade formed to the contour of the group of containers26, isspring held through linkage 96 in proximity to the containers in filling area AB.

Positioner 98 is shown retracted in FIG. 4 for clarity .although closed switch .127 elsewhere in thesdiagram wouldhave itextended, at the moment. The correct .sequencecfoperation of themachinewill now be described.

.Microswitches 28 areprovided withfingers 30which sense the presence ofia, complete :quota. of empty con .tainers 26in filling area ABagainst stop arm 84.- The closed circuit thus produced, signals pulse former. device 100 which, in turn, providesa trigger pulseto relay 108. -No rmally open contacts momentarily closer-the. circuit fromregulatorSZ to. motor armaturel-lfi to start, motor 118.

At the end ofv the trigger pulse, contact 109 is restored butsince cam12211215 started to turn andhas closed the lower contacts of switch 123 the motor llscontinues to rotate.

This operation can best be seen on the first two lines of the -operational cycle chart illustrated in FIG. 5, where thecam-rotationin counter-clockwise nomenclature is projected linearly with ,time from-left to right.

During the first half cycle of rotation, namely ,from 6oclock to 12 o clock,ifluid from pumps 130, flows to the containers 26. Just prior to this function, positioner 98 was advanced against containers 26 under command of solenoid 94, switch 127' andcam 126, as the final operationofthe previous cycle.

Upon eompletion'of the fill-strokeat 12 oclock, position, cam l -26 opens switch 127 which releases solenoid .94. Positioner 98 is thenwithdrawn nnder spring action. At the same time, cam 12 4;closes; switch 125- operating solenoid 82 which withdraws stop arm 84. The group of filled containers 26 is thus ;released;from area AB to move down the conveyor belt lfl.

At the 9 oclock position-earn 124;opens switch 125 to (le -energize solenoid2 and allow stop arm 84 to re-enter the path. Simultaneously, cam 1 28 .closes-switch129 to energize solenoid 74, withdrawing stop-arm -78 from lhe'ipath a lowin -t e-emp yt ont ne .2 t m v in filling varea AT- -B. Ne ar,the ;end of; this quarter cycle 9 P t qn. a.m. -slosess tch 2 to ener i solenoid 94 and move pgsit-ioner 98 against thecontaihs 26 in filliflse s i fiB- .T sa im a ur telvpo iflee sq t in r 2 und nozz e 3, anda ains imismsw ts z zl whsre psnth r v n .t

Mieroswitches 28 also actias fno ivial-noz fill ;devices since the pumping mechanism will notoperate untilgthey are all depressed .simultaneousl. 'If Za. completejcomplement of containers is .notinposition under the .filling nozzles, the mechanism willtstop.

.A positively motor stop in the nature-.nof'anelectromagnetic brake prevents coasting of motor 11-8-into' another cycle of operation. For this purpose, a damping resistor 138 is connected to the upper contact of cam switch :123. When this contact-is closed under command of motor cam 122 andthe normally closed contacts 109 are closed due to trigger signal cut-omit can be seenthat resistor 138 shorts armature 116 fora quick stop.

An additional filling machine may be added by merely paralleling their trigger terminals 107 as shown by: dotted :arrows extendingto the right in FIG. 4. Sufiicient microswitches 28 for the additional containers 26 are also required.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible inlight of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed:

1. A handling and filling machine for simultaneously filling,a.plurality of spaced containers with a viscous medium, comprising means tor delivering calibrated, predetermined chargesof said viscous medium to said spaced unfilled containers ina cyclic operation, vmeans including a speed regulated motor for dispensing said calibrated predeterminedcharges of said viscous medium in accordance with the placement of said unfilled containers,,-a pulse forming meansfor initiating a cycle of operation forsaid speed regulated motor, a .series of sensors, with therebeing one sensor each to each container in the filling Zone, means responsive to all ofysaid sensors and actuated by said containers to initiate said pulse forming. means, andother mechanismv including a continuous- -ly operated conveyor system for placement and displacement of said unfilled containers aswell as said filled containersin synchronous relationship with said delivering means, whereby, said viscousmedium is delivered cyclically to said plurality of ,unfilledcon-tainers.

2. A handling and filling machine for simultaneously filling a pluralityof spaced containers vwit-h a viscous medium,-co mprising, at least two spaced means for delivering calibrated, predetermined charges of said viscous medium to,said spaced unfilled containers incyclicoperation, means including a speed regulated motor which is periodically electroma gnetically lbraked to define said cyclic operation, a calibrated reciprocating pump for each deliyeringmeanstor dispensing said calibrated predetermined charges of said viscous medium in accordal Qeswith the placement of said unfilled containers, an electric pulse forming means for simultaneously initiating a cycle of operatiaon of each speed regulated motor, a s e ries. of; sensors, withone sensor each for each container in the filling zone, each ofsaid sensors including a.;,SW i t ch-- with; neans ,in the positionof each container in the filling zone to actuateitsrespective switch, all of said switches being connectedin series, means responsive tpa ll;.of" id sensors beingactuated by saidHQQntainer t it eteei rulse-tqrm m ans-an o h rm c nismincluding a continuously operated conveyor system i rt-hls ieakan d spl men p s unfi e ntainers'a 11 as said filled cent ainers in synchronous rsla iqns l iw t s i de ry m a w e y s cou ed mi e er cy ic t sai p ura i y. unfilled containers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ;2,2 l2,06 5 Anderson June .21, 1938 2,332,232 Bleam et a1. Nov. .2, 1943 2,491,826 ,Meyers eta]. Dec. 20,1949 12,550,903 Berch -May 1, 1951 3,620,960 Harrington Dec. 9, 1952 2,709,538 Harrington May 31, 1955 ,7. .3 .6 .Egerton Nov. 22, 1955 2,772,705 Anderson Dec. .4, 1956 2,350,051 Rasmussen Sept. 2, .1958 

